Saturday, July 12, 2008 Nalzaro: Why can’t Osmeña accept defeat? By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
WHY can’t people accept defeat? Take Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña. He belittled the recognition given by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) to the Lapu-Lapu City Government as one of the most competitive cities in the country.
Last weekend, AIM unveiled the results of its 2007 Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Projects. Lapu-Lapu ranked high in that survey in the areas of infrastructure and the low cost of doing business.
Osmeña said the survey was not accurate because it cited infrastructure like the Mactan Export Processing Zone and the Mactan Cebu International Airport that are not directly under the local government. He claimed that Lapu-Lapu is 20 years behind Cebu City.
Well, Tomas has reason to whine because the recognition given to Lapu-Lapu is an insult to his administration and to Cebu City. Besides, he has bad blood with Mayor Arturo Radaza.
Belittling the award is tantamount to questioning the integrity and credibility of AIM, one of the reputable institutions in the country. But we can only question and argue with a survey by presenting another scientific and comprehensive study.
Why won't Tomas accept that Cebu City did not excel in these areas? He also questioned the study conducted by Moneysense, a financial and business magazine, on the most livable cities in the country. Cebu City did not make it to the top of the list.
While Radaza’s administration is being hounded with graft and corruption issues, let's separate the grain from the chaff.
Let Radaza’s critics and detractors pursue their crusade of exposing the mayor's shenanigans. Anyway, some of the cases are already pending before the anti-graft body. But let's also give him credit if his administration excelled in some areas.
The study did not state, however, if these accomplishments happened under Radaza’s administration. But considering that he is the current mayor, he should get the credit. We should pat him in the back.
Instead of criticizing the recognition given to Lapu-Lapu City, Osmeña should use it as basis to assess his administration’s performance and where Cebu City failed.
When Malacañang gave Cebu City the Galing Pook award for the excellent performance of the Lupon Tagapamayapa, nobody questioned it. When during the city’s Charter Day celebration the mayor awarded institutions and individuals he handpicked, nobody also questioned him.
Unlike in Lapu-Lapu City, the Cebu City Hall has less graft and corruption issues. Osmeña has not been linked also to corrupt acts. In fact, he is not facing graft cases.
Still, some of his ctitics are questioning the magnitude of his acquired assets.
How come he can finance the election expenses of his slate when he is only receiving P30,000 in monthly salary? Where did he get the money? And mind you, he is not into business.
He can even afford to offer a house and lot to a policeman who killed a bank robber even if he himself does not own a house. Pobreng milyonaryo na si Tomas.
